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Freedom from Clutter. 7 Emotional Blocks That Hold You Back from Letting Go for Good. Tracy McCabbin
We've all been there - stuck on stuff we just can't seem to part with. Tracy McCabbin's book is like a breath of fresh air, helping you pinpoint the emotional blocks that are holding you back and providing a clear path to letting go for good. It's time to break free from the clutter that's weighing you down and start fresh.
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The Hidden Reasons Your Home Is a Mess - And How to Break Free from Clutter for Good
summarizeEditor's Summary
I recently devoured 'Freedom from Clutter. 7 Emotional Blocks That Get in the Way of Letting Go for Good' by Tracy McCubbin, and I gotta say, it's been a total game-changer for my home organization. The book offers a fresh perspective on clutter, delving into the emotional blocks that hold us back from letting go. With its engaging writing style and actionable tips, this book is a must-read for anyone struggling with clutter. But, be warned, it's not just about decluttering – it's about understanding the underlying reasons behind our attachment to stuff. The author's approach is both inspiring and thought-provoking, making it a valuable read for anyone looking to transform their living space and their life. One of the things I loved about this book is how it made me realize that clutter isn't just about physical stuff, but also about the emotional baggage we carry around. The book provides a comprehensive understanding of the emotional blocks that lead to clutter, and offers actionable tips and strategies for breaking free from clutter. The writing style is engaging and relatable, making it easy to follow and understand. The book covers a wide range of topics related to clutter and organization, and includes 34 illustrations to help illustrate key concepts. Overall, I found this book to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to overcome clutter and achieve a more organized and peaceful living space.
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I recently stumbled upon a fascinating book, 'Freedom from Clutter. 7 Emotional Blocks That Get in the Way of Letting Go for Good,' written by American author Tracy McCubbin. Even the blurb caught my eye, hinting that this book is similar in concept to Marie Kondo's bestseller 'The Magic of Tidying Up,' but approaches the topic from a completely different angle – a psychological one.
Freedom from Clutter. Minimalism. The Magic of Tidying Up.Title: Freedom from Clutter. 7 Emotional Blocks That Get in the Way of Letting Go for Good
Author: Tracy McCubbin
Publication Date:
2019
Translation Date:
2021
Page Count:
220 pages, 34 illustrations
Translator: Yessenia Biryuzova
Publisher: BomBora
Copyright Holder: Exmo
ISBN: 978-5-04-162363-0
Book Blurb:
For over a decade, Tracy McCubbin has helped clients break free from clutter. Having completed thousands of projects, she realized that clutter is inevitable where emotional issues are present.
In her book, she offers a method to begin by understanding what prevents you from maintaining order in your home and life. Using her techniques, you'll analyze your relationship with possessions and identify the emotional block that's holding you back from letting go. By recognizing your problem, you'll be able to remove the obstacles standing between your home's current state and your dream home.
After reading this book, you'll never want to let clutter back into your life, because you'll experience firsthand what it's like to live without it.
Content
I've gotta say, unlike Marie Kondo's 'The Magic of Tidying Up,' Tracy McCubbin's book doesn't give you a whole bunch of tips on organizing your space, storing stuff, and the like. Her approach to decluttering resonated with me more – she doesn't tell you how to fold your clothes, where to put them, or how many items you should have in each category.
Her quip about toilet paper really sums up her whole approach to organizing your space: 'If you're storing toilet paper on your head, that's okay – just make sure to put it back when you're done, on your head.'
Of course, those kinds of tips aren't the main event here. Through her years of experience helping people declutter their homes, Tracy's identified seven major 'chaos blocks' – reasons why your home is cluttered, disorganized, and chaotic.
It's not a deep dive into psychology or anything, just the author's real-life experience that she's sharing with you. And trust me, it's super valuable – it's always easier to learn from someone else's mistakes than your own.
7 Chaos Blocks
I'm not gonna go into each chaos block in detail, but you should totally read the book. Each one gets a thorough explanation, plus tips on how to tackle it.
Clear: A Sister's Story. Minimalism. The Magic of Tidying Up.Tracy shares loads of examples from people's lives she's worked with, who've struggled with clutter, endless boxes, and just too much stuff. Reading about someone else's mess and why it happened is actually pretty fascinating. Some of these stories are dramatic, while others are just plain weird – you wonder why someone would live like that. Decluttering freedom. Minimalism. Magical cleaning. I've noticed that most of my messy days are linked to my mental state. Take, for instance, the second block – it's all about shopaholism, which stems from an unhealthy dependence on buying stuff.
Decluttering freedom. Minimalism. Magical cleaning. The book's full of stories about getting rid of valuable and worthless papers. Bureaucracy's taken over America, and it's a real mess. Freedom from clutter. Minimalism. Magical tidying. I've seen my fair share of cluttered chaos blocks, but my fourth one was particularly eye-opening. A friend bought this fancy electric kettle with temperature control, a tea ceremony set, and a bunch of expensive Chinese tea - all for a few months of use. The rest of the time, it just sat there, a useless hunk of stuff.
Freedom from clutter. Minimalism. Magical tidying.
The fifth chaos block is a common one. No matter where I go, I always spot some old Soviet-era tea set that was passed down from parents or grandparents, but never actually used. It just sits pretty in the cabinet. If no tea set is around, you can bet there's a pair of crystal salad bowls or a vase collecting dust. Some people's parents or grandparents are especially thrifty, and you might find old, hard-to-get Soviet-era tights, expensive bedding, a few new fur hats from the 80s, and more. Closets hold secrets and surprises like these.
Freedom from Clutter. Minimalism. Magic Cleaning. Ah, the sixth chaotic block I've ever encountered in my life. And yes, I can still tell you about that infamous tea set, but this time it's been passed down through generations, although it's completely worthless in reality.
Freedom from Clutter. Minimalism. Magic Cleaning. The seventh chaotic block is basically an American theme. Of course, there are people in Russia who take out loans to buy status symbols – a fancy handbag or a designer dress – but in general, people are reasonable, and if they don't have the money, they don't buy it. Modest income means fewer purchases, fewer things, more free space in the house, and less clutter.In the book, many aspects of American minimalists' lives are described. Of course, most of them live in big houses, but they don't have much stuff, and they still manage to rent warehouses to store their belongings. Have you ever heard of that? I haven't.
American minimalism is quite different from ours. At least in scale, it's just mind-boggling. Filling a house from top to bottom with stuff and clutter, taking up an endless number of boxes in the garage, and renting a warehouse – it's just unimaginable. In Russia, it's simply impossible, as there's no space for all that stuff in a small 30-40 square meter apartment.
I was really surprised to learn that the average American minimalist can order several packages from online stores and simply leave them forgotten in the entrance hall. Or buy things they don't even have money for (the feeling that all Americans live, buried under dozens of loans).
Some of the stories in the book just kill me. Not opening a gift box that's been sitting around for 40 years? Storing old photos of people you don't even know how to pronounce their names? Buying expensive home equipment and watching it gather dust in the corner, even though you could be using it?
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Usefulness of the book
I'm a minimalist, and I generally don't have a lot of stuff. Five bottles of shampoo and ten creams aren't my thing. You'd think I wouldn't need to read a book about decluttering, but I found a mess within myself - just on a smaller scale. Without the book, I'd never have gotten to that point, never understood that buying fewer things doesn't necessarily mean they won't accumulate and take up space.
So, I guess I have my work cut out for me on the path to perfect organization. After reading the book, I took a fresh look at all my stuff and got to work on decluttering.
The book is a powerful motivator that will make you re-examine every single item in your home.
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Author's style and tone
The author clearly expresses their thoughts without beating around the bush. There are even moments of subtle humor that completely counterbalance the seriousness of the book's themes, like getting rid of a deceased person's belongings.
Translation issues
There are obvious translation problems with the book. It's too Americanized, and the author clearly wrote it with US readers in mind, so adapting it for a different country would require rewriting half of it.
The book has been slightly adapted, and where the original had clear references to specific documents (in the section about sorting through documents and other useful and not-so-useful papers), the translation had familiar tax ID numbers and the like. But the concepts of checks (for receiving money), tax documents for returns on purchases, and the like remained. It doesn't quite add up.
Verdict: a good, useful book about decluttering, cleaning, and getting rid of stuff. It helps, motivates, and points out problems.
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live_helpFeatured FAQ
What is the main focus of 'Freedom from Clutter'?
The book primarily focuses on the emotional aspects of clutter, exploring the underlying reasons behind our attachment to stuff and providing actionable tips for breaking free from clutter.
Is this book suitable for international readers?
While the book is written specifically for an American audience, its principles and concepts can be applied universally. However, some readers may find the writing style or cultural references to be less relatable.
What can I expect from the illustrations in the book?
The book includes 34 illustrations that help to illustrate key concepts and ideas. While they may be somewhat simplistic, they can be a helpful supplement to the text.
Is this book a comprehensive guide to organizing and maintaining a clutter-free space?
While the book provides actionable tips and strategies for breaking free from clutter, it does not provide a comprehensive plan or system for organizing and maintaining a clutter-free space.
What is the publication date of 'Freedom from Clutter'?
The book was originally published in 2019, with a translation date of 2021.
What is the page count of 'Freedom from Clutter'?
The book has 220 pages, including 34 illustrations.
Who is the author of 'Freedom from Clutter'?
The book is written by Tracy McCubbin, an American author and expert in the field of clutter and organization.
What is the publisher of 'Freedom from Clutter'?
The book is published by BomBora, with a copyright holder of Exmo.
check_circlePros
- •Provides a comprehensive understanding of the emotional blocks that lead to clutter
- •Offers actionable tips and strategies for breaking free from clutter
- •Written in an engaging and relatable style, making it easy to follow and understand
- •Covers a wide range of topics related to clutter and organization
- •Includes 34 illustrations to help illustrate key concepts
- •Provides a fresh perspective on clutter, moving beyond the usual decluttering advice
- •Helps readers understand the underlying reasons behind their attachment to stuff
- •Offers a comprehensive understanding of the emotional blocks that lead to clutter
cancelCons
- •The book is written specifically for an American audience, which may make it less relatable for international readers
- •Some readers may find the writing style too casual or conversational
- •The book focuses primarily on the emotional aspects of clutter, which may not be as relevant for those who struggle with physical clutter
- •The book is relatively short, with only 220 pages of content
- •Some readers may find the illustrations to be somewhat simplistic or lacking in depth
- •The book does not provide a comprehensive plan or system for organizing and maintaining a clutter-free space
- •May not be as relevant for readers who struggle with physical clutter
- •Some readers may find the book too focused on emotional aspects of clutter
